Fluid heater tube support



April 3, 1962 J. KLLING FLUID HEATER TUBE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1957 FIG.2

l+||| IIII.

INVENTOR.

Johann Klnng ATTORNEY United The present invention relates to a fluid heater whose enclosure is defined by suspended wall tubes, tubes of which carry the static load imposed on the wall. More particularly it relates to a steam generating unit having enclosing walls, portions of which, comprise laterally extending wall tubes that are supported by bars connected to the back of the tubes over a partial or entire vertical extent thereof at spaced intervals so as to transmit the static loadings of the laterally extending tube portions to other vertically extending tube portions positioned in the wall or other supporting structure.

For the known steam generators of suspended construction, the design of the supporting wall tubes is taken into consideration by arranging the wall tubes in Vertical suspension and in vertical parallel planes. However, the contour of the furnace chamber and heating surfaces does not always permit a similar statically correct arrangement for the formation of the wall tubes. lt is oftentimes essential or preferred in certain portions of the setting that the wall tubes be disposed horizontally or extended in a lateral direction out or' the vertical plane. As a result the static loading of the wall becomes disrupted due to the turning moment of the horizontal or laterally extending wall tube sections. As herein referred to the term laterally extending is intended to include any preferred angle of inclination between and 90 with reference to the horizontal.

For vertically suspended tubes, the load of the tube is carried axially by the tubes themselves. However, the portions of the wall surfaces consisting of the horizontal or laterally extending tube portions of themselves do not have any vertically arranged support element or component to pick up their load. Therefore, it is necessary to proportion the supporting elements of these laterally extending wall sections with reference to the existing turning and bending moments thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide a support arrangement whereby the horizontal or laterally extending wall tubes are statically supported in an uninterrupted or continuous, vertical support section.

According to this invention the load carrying capacity and static loading of the wall tubes extending horizontally or laterally out of vertical alignment in a vertically suspended wall of a vapor generator is attained by connecting the laterally extending tubes with one another either by continuous, and/ or by spaced vertically extending support bars. In this manner there is produced a vertically extending chain support type of arrangement which is formed of tube sections and bar sections, in which the tubes and bars simulate the links of the chain.

The static wall load is generally not so great as to require that the width of the supporting bars be co-extensive to the length of the horizontal or laterally extending wall tube section. For this reason it is usually sufficient, to distribute only a few, laterally spaced, bars across the width of the extended wall tube section, the bars being securely welded to the baci; of the tubes. The tube portions between the spaced support bars need only then be appropriately sealed to inhibit air infiltration. In some instances sufficient sealing of the tube spaces between the support bars can be attained by studding the tubes and applying suitable refractory material thereto.

A feature of this invention resides in the arrangement ddtl of a supporting structure for tying in portions of a suspended wall which is subjected to both turning and bending moments by forming continuous vertical wall support sections that are relatively simple in construction, inexpensive and positive in operation.

Other features and advantages will be apparent when considered in view of the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a vapor generator illustrating the side wall of a combustion and radiation chamber and supporting means therefor.

FlG. 2 is a sectional side view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed section view taken along line 3-3 of FlG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken along line of PEG. 2.

ln FIG. l there is shown, for example, a side wall of the combustion and radiation chamber of a natural circulation vapor generator in which the periphery of the chamber is indicated in heavy dot-dash line. According to the invention the side wall is supported from a boiler frame lil by means of four support hangers or rods lll, l2, 13 and l. According to this invention the side wall supported by the hangers l1 to 14 includes an upper header l5 and a lower header 16 connected by a plurality of tubes l? which extend throughout portions thereof in vertically spaced parallel planes as indicated at l'7A and liB. However, as it is oftentimes necessary or desirable, portions llC and 17D of the side wall tubes are required to be laterally extended or bent out of the vertical planes, as shown, in order to denne an expanded furnace chamber l. It will be noted that the vertical furnace wall tube sections lA and l7B are capable of carrying the axial load imposed thereon. When the tubes are laterally extended because of the expanded furnace chamber, the load transmission in the vertical direction is disturbed, as the laterally extending tube portions llC, 17D have imparted thereto a turning moment which is generally in the direction indicated by arrow i9. ln order to maintain the load transmission in a vertical direction, the instant invention provides that the inclined or laterally extended tube sections 17C, 17D in the vicinity of the furnace chamber be connected by the means of elongated bars Ztl, 29A, 2l, 22 and 23.

The load to be carried in the region of the lower inclined tube portions 17D is transmitted -by support bar 20A to vertical tube sections 17E. As shown, ybar 2t? receives the load transmitted by tube 17E, transmitting it to vertically extending tube portions 17A and through them to the overhead support structure lt). A plurality of spaced bars 21, 22., `2? as indicated are provided for connecting other opposed vertical extending tube portions 17A and 17B of the side wall so that the load of the lateral extending tube portions may be transmitted in a continuous vertical direction.. Thus it will be noted that the instant support means is in the form of a chain composed of portions of vertical tube lengths and vertical bars in which the tubes and bars form the links of the chain. While the lbars are generally provided with a cross-sectional area sufficient to carry the load, it maybe desirable to utilize bars which are incapable of fully supporting the imposed load. ln such instances the bars are provided with reinforcing elements to afford the additional load carrying ability required. The` instant support means have the further advantage in that the bars welded to the tubes also function as a sealing means. Thus the spaces or gaps 24 between the bars need only be sealed by appropriate means not requiring load carrying capabilities.

A modified form of the invention is shown. in FIGS. 2' and 4. In this form of the invention the wall Sil, illustrated, is of the type which may be used as a side wall of' a forced ow vapor generator. In this yforni of the invention the side wall tubes 5l are illustrated as horizontally extended, U-shaped tubes. According to this invention the load of the wall is primarily carried by vertical support members 52 to 57 which are connected to the boiler frame 5S. From this construction it will be noted that the support elements 52 to 57 are welded to the tubes 51 of the individual walls or panels of the side wall 50 in a manner so as to insure high heat transfer thereto. Furthermore, the support elements 52 to 57 are insulated by suitable refractory or the like 59 against the external air. As a result the support elements follow the temperature changes of the wall tubes 51 as rapidly as possible. The sealing Weld or connections 60 between the tubes 51 shield the support elements 52 to 57 from radiant heat emission of the combustion gases in the spaces between tubes.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2 the supports 52 to 57 not only pick up the load of the side Walls but also that of the floor 61 and the associated slag tap opening 62. Between the support elements 52 to 57 there are profile or structural members 63 which support the furnace floor 61 and which transmit the oor load to the vertical support members 52, to 56.

As illustrated, combustion chamber dit is enlarged or laterally extended and the eccentric loading thereof is picked up by special support elements 65 and 66. lf desired these support elements could be formed as ow tubes or could be supporting bars that are maintained at the temperature of the boiler tubes by a rising air stream.

In the case of the completely suspended natural circulation boiler shown in FIG. l, the vertical support tubes themselves are suspended. In the form o-f FIG. 2 the vertical support elements 52 to 57 are suspended from the roof frame 58 which may for example be supported from the bunkers or other solid structural steel connection of the boiler house. It is also possible to carry these loads on particular boiler columns.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a uid heater, a wall comprising a plurality of top supported depending tubes adapted to carry the load of the Wall axially thereof, said tubes being disposed in the plane of said Wall and including upright tube portions adapted to be axially loaded and other portions thereof laterally extended in the plane of said wall as return bend tube sections to form an expanded surface area of said wall, said return bend tube sections being subjected to a turning moment due to the weight thereof, an elongated support bar connected to at least one of said upright tube portions to form an axial extension thereof, said bar extending transversely of said laterally extending tube portions of said return bend tube sections, and means connecting said bar to each of said laterally extending tube portions extending transversely thereof whereby the static loading of said laterally extending tube portions of said return bend sections is transmitted axially through the support bar to said one upright tube portion connected thereto for maintaining said tube portions in static equilibrium.

2. In a uid heater, a top support, a wall dependently supported from said top support, said wall including a plurality of wall tubes adapted to carry the load of the Wall yaxially thereof, said tubes having their respective center lines disposed in the plane of said wall and said tubes having upright portions extending respectively in horizontally spaced vertical planes disposed normal to the plane of said wall, said upright portions having laterally extending return bend tube portions bent out of their respective horizontally spaced vertical planes and arranged to form a nested return bend tube section whereby said nested tube section is subjected to a turning moment inthe plane of said wall, a plurality of transversely spaced elongated bars, each of said bars being connected to an adjacent upright tube portion to form an axial extension thereof, and each of said bars extending transversely of said laterally extending tube portions at spaced intervals thereof, and means connecting each of said bars to said laterally extending tube portions to resist the turning moment of said laterally extending tube portions whereby the loading of the said laterally extending tube portions is transmitted axially through said bars to their connected upright tube portions, and said bars forming with their said connected upright tube portions uninterrupted vertical support columns extending the length of the wall at said spaced intervals for maintaining said wall in static equilibrium.

3. In a iluid heater, a wall comprising a plurality of top supported axially loaded tubes coplanarly disposed in the plane of said wall, each of said tubes having axially aligned upper and lower upright tube portions with connected intermediate tube portions thereof formed as return bend tubes having laterally extending leg segments relative to the respective axially aligned upright tube portions to dene an expanded tube wall area subjected to a turning moment in the plane of said wall, an elongated support bar connected to and between the aligned upper and lower upright tube portions of one of said tubes to form therewith a continuous upright support column, said support bar extending transversely of the laterally extending leg segments of said intermediate tube portions disposed between the aligned upper and lower upright portions of said one tube, and means for connecting said bar to each of said `laterally extending leg segments of said intermediate tube portions so that the loadings of said laterally extending leg segments and the lower upright tube portions connected thereto are transmitted axially through the support bar `to the upper upright tube portion of said one tube connected thereto.

4. In a iiuid heater, a top support, a wail dependently supported from said top support, said wall including a plurality of upright tubes disposed in the plane of said wall, said wall tubes each including an upper upright portion, a laterally extending portion forming a continuation thereof, and a lower upright portion connected to the extended end of said laterally extending tube portion, said tubes being disposed in the plane of said wall so that the upper upright portions of several of said tubes are in alignment with the lower upright portions of other of said tubes, a support bar connected to and between the aligned upper and lower tube portions `of said tubes, said support bar extending transversely of the laterally extending portions of the tubes disposed between the aligned upper and lower portion of said tubes, and means for connecting the support bar to each -of the laterally extending tube portions extending transversely thereof so that the loading of said transversely extending tubes is transmitted axially through said support bar to the upper upright tube portion connected thereto.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which the intermediate return bend tubes are nested and have upright bight portions interconnecting the laterally extending leg segments thereof; some of said upright bight portion being disposed in spaced axial alignment with some of said axial aligned upper and lower upright tube portions, an upper elongated support bar connected to and between one of said upper upright tube portions and one of said aligned upright bight portion, a lower elongated support bar in `spaced axial alignment with said upper bar connected to and between said one upright Abight portion and aligned lower upright tube portion of said one tube, and means `for connecting said upper and lower aligned sup port bars to the extending leg segments extending transversely of the respective support bars so tha-t the loading of the respective leg segments is transmitted axially through said support bars t0 their connected tube portions so that said bars form With their said connected tube portions uninterrupted vertical support columns extending 5 the length of the wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,995,034 Mayo Mar. 19, 1935 10 6 Wood Sept. 24, 1935 Gilg Nov. 1, 1938 Lucke Feb. 28, 1939 Bailey Aug. 22, 1939 Shellenberger July 25, 1944 Kniel Dec. 21, 1948 Mekler July 3, 1956 Patterson July 2, 1957 Vogel Feb. 4, 1958 Duram June 24, 1958 

